Photo courtesy of Healthy New Albany
Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Wellness Through Recreation program
The Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany’s plans for community programming include a six-week education experience for middle school girls targeting topics such as team building, bullying and confidence.
The pilot program received a positive response from students at New Albany Middle School, and now it will be implemented as a community program at the Heit Center, says Abbey Brooks, program manager for the center.
Girls Rox (Ruling Our Experiences) has a six-week program for sixth- and seventh-grade girls as well as a one-day middle school program. Both programs emphasize establishing healthy habits for communication and confidence building.
A one-day class for women preparing to enter college is also available. In this class, the women learn how to improve how they communicate assertively, deal with conflict, navigate stress and relationships, manage coursework and campus activities, identify avenues of support, and learn emotional and physical self-defense skills.
Self-defense skills are also taught at girls’ and mother-daughter safety workshops.
Additionally, Healthy New Albany is exploring more ways to educate individuals about sports health. A golf class for injury prevention and performance enhancement is planned, and Brooks says the center is looking to hold a similar class for tennis.
“Those are both big sports that happen in the community, and we want to make sure we’re addressing those needs,” she says.
Healthy New Albany is also adding to its cooking classes. Topics for summer and fall include forming a plant-based diet plan for diabetes control, vegetable chopping, freezer stocking, cooking with a slow-cooker, preparing marinades and dry rubs, cooking vegetable appetizers, making chilled soups, cooking for couples and brewing beer.
Individuals do not have to be fitness center members, New Albany residents or medical patients to sign up for programs, Brooks says.
Each class is typically an hour long and falls under one of four topics. Cooking classes are under the In the Kitchen heading. Adult programs are for those 18 and over. Programs for Parents, Students and Coaches include information related to sports medicine, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Family and Youth programs are for children ages 6-14.
While the Programming Committee members originally knew they wanted categories for cooking, kids and adults, they realized that they needed a separate category to account for sports medicine topics from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Brooks says.
“They’re willing to offer some great classes,” she says.
Instructors from The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s teach the programs, Brooks says. Eventually, Healthy New Albany will also look for outside instructors.
Possibilities also exist for an instruction partnership between outside organizations and OSU or NCH. One such partnership is already in the planning stages. A program is being developed with Jorgensen Farms and an OSU dietician to incorporate natural and healthful flavors into cooking.
“That’s when you get the best of both worlds,” Brooks says.
Upcoming Classes
All classes take place in the Heit Center, prices TBA
May
Stinky U.
4:30-5:30 p.m., May 4-11, Mondays, ages 6-12
Attendees will zero in on the grosser aspects of human bodily functions via multimedia and interactive classes. Yukonomics 101 covers blood and skin, and Yukonomics 102 features digestion and nose goo.
Grains Every Day
6-7 p.m., May 5-19, Tuesdays, ages 18+
This class instructs participants in how to feature whole grains and legumes such as quinoa, farro, buckwheat, amaranth, barley, wild rice and sorghum into soups, side dishes and entrées.
Shop in Your Pantry
6-7:30 p.m., May 6-27, Wednesdays, ages 18+
By working with a mystery basket of food each week, participants will learn to create unique food and flavor combinations using whatever food is available.
Carbohydrates … the Real Skinny
Noon-1 p.m., May 7, ages 18+
Attendees will learn about good and bad carbohydrates and why eating complex, nutrient-dense carbohydrates is important. They’ll also find out how to tell when the gluten-free diet is appropriate and how to incorporate healthy carbohydrates into a daily diet.
Staying Safe Together: Mother/Daughter Safety Workshop
6:30-9 p.m., May 8, ages 10+
Moms and daughters will learn about awareness, trusting one’s gut instinct and verbal and physical self-defense.
Performance Enhancement in the Young Golfer
11 a.m.-noon, May 30, grades 6-college
Participants will learn about how shortcomings in flexibility, strength, balance and coordination can negatively impact their golf swings. This class also addresses performance enhancement and prevention strategies for common golf injuries.
June
A Plant-Based Plan for Diabetes Control
6:30-7:30 p.m., June 2, ages 18+
Attendees will learn how to prepare tasty low-calorie and low-carb foods – including cookies – with a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Quick Lunches & Snacks for the Busy Family
6-7 p.m., June 4, ages 18+
In this class, participants will learn how to quickly prepare healthful meals and snacks that give active children the nutrients to perform to the best of their abilities.
Basic Babysitter Training
9 a.m.-2:45 p.m., June 20, ages 11+
This training covers how to accept jobs, baby care, medical and household emergencies, foods and snacks, behavior management, child development and fun activities. Participants will each receive educational materials, a pizza lunch, a babysitter success kit and an attendance certificate.
Strong and Worth Defending: Safety Workshop for Girls
7-9 p.m., June 22, grades 5-8 and 9-12
Girls will learn emotional, verbal and physical skills to stay safe.
What Do I Do Now?
6:30-7:30 p.m., June 23, ages 18+
Equipped with knives from home, participants will learn how to slice and dice a variety of fresh produce.
Marinades and Dry Rubs for Any Occasion
1:30-2:30 p.m., June 27, ages 18+
Participants will prepare and sample different marinades and spice rubs for fruits, vegetables and meats.
Don’t Fear the Freezer
6:30-7:30 p.m., June 30, ages 18+
Meals from a cardboard box will become a thing of the past for attendees of this class, which instructs in how to stock the freezer with prepared foods.
July
Vegetable Appetizers
6:30-7:30 p.m., July 7, ages 18+
Dinners and gatherings with family and friends can be vastly improved with the delectable veggie apps shared in this class.
Chilled Soups
6:30-7:30 p.m., July 14, ages 18+
This class explores the cooler side of soups with roasted tomato gazpacho, chilled melon and Yukon Gold potato and leek soup.
Ruling My College Experience: One-Day Track
9 a.m.-3 p.m., July 15, high school juniors and seniors, college freshmen
Assertive communication; dealing with conflict; navigating dating relationships, stress and pressure; negotiating college, coursework and campus life; identifying support systems and trusted adults and practicing social, emotional and physical self-defense skills are covered in this college preparatory class.
Urban Zen
6:30-8 p.m., July 30, ages 18+
This restorative yoga workshop helps individuals mitigate stress and anxiety with aromatherapy, meditation and yoga poses.
Cooking for Couples
6:30-7:30 p.m., July 16, ages 18+
Couples attending this class will learn to prepare foods that are said to arouse more than just taste buds.
Family CPR
9 a.m.-noon, July 18, ages 11+
Participants in this training will receive a Nationwide Children’s Hospital CPR Card after finishing this course. Information includes how to administer CPR and check for airway obstruction when a victim is choking. Attendees will also learn about risk factors, signals and actions for survival and The American Heart Association’s Chain of Survival.
Beer Here!!!
6:30-7:30 p.m., July 21, ages 18+
This class covers ways to use beer in cooking, from marinades to soup bases to barbecue sauces.
August
Ruling My Middle School Experience One-Day Track
9 a.m.-3 p.m., Aug. 3, grades 5-8
This class for young girls covers confident communication online and in person, along with leadership qualities.
Slow it Down a Bit
6:30-7:30 p.m., Aug. 11, ages 18+
Slow-cooker recipes are the focus of this class, which features three different chicken recipes.
Sarah Sole is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
